Postdoctoral Researcher—Photoelectrocatalysis

About the Role

The Materials, Chemical, and Computational Sciences Directorate has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to support the next generation of photo(electro)catalysis research. This project will be focused on understanding the fundamentals of photo(electro)chemical transformations – such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), or nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) – using emerging inorganic semiconductor materials in thin-film configurations. This position will be supported by DOE Basic Energy Science Programs funded at NLR.

Responsibilities

• Characterize novel semiconductor materials and architectures as photoelectrodes to identify defects, probe reaction mechanisms, and tune optoelectronic and catalytic properties.
• Apply strategies for tuning properties including chemical treatments/additives, atomic or molecular doping, surface functionalization, and/or strain engineering.
• Engage in team science leveraging in situ steady-state (UV-vis, IR, Raman, PL) and time-resolved (IR, transient absorption) spectroscopies, microscopy (Confocal Raman/PL, AFM), and product detection (mass spectrometry, gas chromatography) to probe fundamental optoelectronic properties, reaction mechanisms, and material stability/durability.
• Devise experiments to deeply understand systems rather than optimize them for performance.
• Work in a cross-disciplinary team of material scientists, chemists, spectroscopists, and theorists to probe and understand surfaces, interfaces, and durability of newly developed chemistries and architectures.
• Perform data analysis, experimental design, presentations, and writing of manuscripts.

Basic Qualifications

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Material Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related fields.
• Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publication, and communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Photoelectrocatalysis, electrocatalysis, or photocatalysis, particularly for fuel-forming reactions such as CO2R, NO3RR, HER, or OER
  • Spectroscopic or other characterization of (photo/electro)catalysts and/or modified materials surfaces
  • Strategies for establishing the stability of new materials exposed to electrolyte and during catalytic operation
  • Semiconductor device physics
  • Characterization of the optoelectronic properties of semiconductors
• Additional experience in semiconductor photoelectrochemistry, spectro-electrochemistry, thin film or nanoparticle synthesis and surface modification, and other interfacial characterization techniques would be a benefit.

Pay

Annual salary range: $76,600 - $126,400 (based on full-time 40 hours per week). NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-term disability insurance*
• Pension benefits*
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Potential eligibility for performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards that include a monetary component (not guaranteed)
• Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement

*Based on eligibility rules